Fountain applicator



Sept.r2l, 1943. o. J. HERB 2,330,053

FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR Filed April 2s, 194s Patented Sept'2l, 1943 A OttoJ. Herb,

St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Diagraph- Bradley Stencil MachineCorporation. St. Louis, Mo., a corporation oi' Missouri ApplicationApril 2s, 194s, serial Na 484,595

(ci. 12o-43) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain applicators or markers of the kindhaving a reservoir for ink or other liquid, an absorbent nib for theappiication of such liquid, and a valve that is opened by pressure onsaid nib to permit iiow of liquid thereto. from said reservoir. Theinvention has for its principal object to provide a simple and eillcientfountain applicator oi' the above type that will enonomize ink, thatwill saturate the absorbent nib with ink, and that will prevent the nibfrom flooding. The invention consists in providing the applicator with aforce feed mechanism that is operable. only by endwise pressure on thenib in excess of that required for writing, to force a predeterminedquantity or charge of ink from the reservoir into the absorbentbody ofsaid nib. 'I'he invention also consists in the parts, combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this speciflcation andwherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a force feed fountain applicatorembodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the nib cap removed and with the upperportion of the applicator shown in section,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the lower endportion of the applicator on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, with the nib shownin projected or writing position,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the nib depressed.

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal cross-sections on,

the lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the nut for locking' the force feedmechanism in the applicator.

My fountain applicator or marker comprises a tubular body I having aninternal annular rib 2 therein near the lower end thereof, a reservoir 3above said rib and a downwardly opening recess or pocket 4 therebelow.The reservoir 3, in which in k or other uid is kept for use when wanted,is closed at its upper end by a screw cap 5 and at lar supportingshoulder 9 provided therefor in the internal annular rib 2 of the bodyI. yThe lower end portion of the cylinder 6 is exteriorly threaded toreceive a lock nut I0 which bears against the lower end of theinternalannular rib 2 of the body and clamps the external annular rib 2 of saidcylinder tightly against the shoulder provided therefor in said internalannular rib, thereby preventing relative axial movement of said body andcylinder. A screw driver slot II in the upper end of the cylinder 6 anda similar slot I2 in the lower end of the lock nut I0 permits one ofsaid cylinder and nut to be turned while the its lower end by a hollowcylindrical housing 6 located within the tubular body I in axialalinement therewith. 'I'he cylinder '6, which is inserted in and removedfrom the body I through the upper end thereof. extends through thecircular opening 'Iy dened by the internal annular rib 2 into thedownwardly opening pocket Il in the lower end of said body. The cylinder6 has an external annular rib 8 that seats on an annuother is heldagainst rotation when said'cylinder is secured to the internal hollowrib 2 of the tubular body.

The cylinder '6 has diametrically opposed ports `I3 through the sidewall thereof that establish communication between the reservoir 3 andthe interior of said cylinder. Reciprocable in the hollow cylinder 6 isa cylindrical piston valve I4 having upwardly and downwardly extendingstem portions I5 and I6, respectively. The upwardly extending valve stemI5 has a fiat-sided upper end portion Il that extends through andhas asliding but non-rotary ilt in a iiat-sided opening I8 in the upper endof all of the cylinder Ii.l

The depending stem I6 of the valve I 4 is slidably supported in abushing I9 that is presstted in the.' lower end of the cylinder 6; andsaid valve is normally held in endwise abutting relation to said bushingby means of a coil compression spring 20 that is sleeved on theupstanding valve stem I5 with one end seated against the top of saidcylinder and the other end seated on the upper end of said valve. Inthis spring projected position of the valve I4 it covers the ports I3 inthe cylinder `6 and thus cuts oi communication between the reservoir 3and the interior of said cylinder. 'I'he depending valve stem I6 has anaxial passageway 2| extending therethrough from end to end thereof andacross passageway 22 that establishes communication between said axialpassageway and the interior of the cylinder 6 when the valve I4 islifted olf the .bushing I'9.

The applicator is provided with a suitably shaped liquid applier or nib23 comprising a body of felt or other absorbent material having a screw24 threaded into the upper end of an axial bore 25 therein; and saidscrew has an axial bore 26 therein whose 4upper end is threaded toreceive the threaded lower end of the depending valve stem I6, wherebysaid nib is reciprocable with said valve stem in the downwardly openingvpocket 4 therein, but terminates short of the lower end of said nib. Thehead portion 23 of the screw 24 abuts against the upper end of the niband is provided with holes 29 for a spanner wrench; and said nib isprovided near the upper end thereof with a band or hoop 30 whichpreventsthe felt body of said nib from spreading when said screw is threadedtherein.

When it is desired to ll or saturate the felt nib 23 with ink from thereservoir 3 of the body I of the applicator, the nib is pressed endwiseagainst a stationary surface with suilicient pressure to force said nibinwardly in said body against the pressure of the spring 20 until thehead of the screw 24 abuts against the nut I0. In this position of theparts, see Fig. 4, the valve I4 uncovers the ports I3 in the cylinder 6and the inflows from the reservoir 3 into said cylinder and illls theannular space therein between said valve and the bushing I9. When thepressure is released, the valve I4 is projected downwardly in thecylinder 8 by the' action of the spring 20, whereby said valve memberrst covers the ports I3 and cuts ofi communication between the res`ervoir 3 and cylinder 6 and then operates as a piston to forcibly feedthe ink trapped in the cylinder through the passageways 22, 2| in thedepending valve stem I6, thence through the axial bore 26 in the screw24, and thence through the axial bore 25 of the nib 23 into the feltbody thereof. The valve loading spring 20 is strong enough to preventopening of the valve I4 under ordinary writing pressure. Thus, no ink isfed to the nib 23 during the operation of writing.

The hereinbefore described fountain applicator has several importantadvantages. 'I'he force feed of the ink from the reservoir to theinterior of the absorbent nib serves to thoroughly saturate said nib.Flow of the ink to the nib is prevented when writing and the nib ischarged with ink only when required, thus saving ink and preventing thenib from flooding. The ink is forced under pressure from the interior ofthe nib to the outer surface thereof and prevents the ink fromaccumulating in the body of the nib and hardening. Obviously, thehereinbefore described invention admits of considerable modification andI do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown anddescribed.

What I claim is:

1. A fountain applicator comprising a iluid containing reservoir, amarking nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of thatrequired for marking therewith for forcing fluid from said reservoir tosaid nib.

2. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, amarking nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of thatrequired for marking therewith for forcing a predetermined quantity of'uid from said reservoir to said nib.

3. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir. awriting nib and means operable by pressure on said nib in excess of thatemployed in writing therewith for forcing fluid y from said reservoirinto the interior of said nib.

4. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir. anabsorbent writing rnib and means operable by pressure on said nib inexcess of that employed in writing therewith for forcing a predeterminedquantity of fluid from said reservoir into the interior of said nib.

5. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, ahousing, a marking nib and means operable by pressure on said nib inexcess of that required for marking therewith for admitting fluid fromsaid reservoir into said housing and for feeding said fluid from saidhousing to said nib when such pressure is released. 6. A fountainapplicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, a housing, anabsorbent writing nib and means operable by pressure on said, nib inexcess of that employed in writing therewith for admitting a charge offluid from said reservoir into said housing and for forcing said chargeinto the interior of said nib when said pressure is released.

7. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, ahousing having a port therein for establishing communication betweensaid reservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve in said housingfor opening and closing said port, a spring in said housing for normallyholding said valve in closed position, and a writing nib fixed to saidvalve for movement therewith, said valve having a passageway thereinleading from the interior of said housing to said nib, said valve beingmovable against the pressure of said spring to open said port bypressure on said nib in excess of that employed in writing therewith,said valve being adapted upon release of such pressure to close saidport and force the fluid from said housing through said passageway tosaid nib.

8. A fountain applicator comprising a uid containing reservoir, ahousing having a port therein for establishing communication betweensaid reservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve reciprocable insaid housing for normally closing said port, a spring enclosed in saidhousing for normally holding said valve in port closing position, and anabsorbent writing nib xed to said valve for movementtherewith, saidvalve having a passageway therein opening at one end into said housingand at the other end into said nib, said valve being movable against thepressure of said closing spring to open said port by pressure on saidnib in excess of that employed in writing therewith, said valve beingadapted upon release of such pressure to function after the manner of apiston to force fluid from said housing through said passageway intosaid nib.

9. A fountain applicator comprising a fluid containing reservoir, ahousing having a port therein for establishing communication betweensaid reservoir and the interior of said housing, a reciprocable valve insaid housing for covering and uncovering said port, said valve having astem extending outside of said housing, a spring for holding said valvein port closing position, an absorbent writing nib, a screw threadedinto said nib and threaded on said stem portion, said stem, screw andnib having passageways therein for establishing communication betweenthe interior of said housing and nib, said valve being movable to opensaid port by pressure on said nib in excess of that required for writingtherewith, said valve being adapted upon release of such pressure tofunction after the manner of a piston to force fluid in said housingthrough said passageways and into the interior of said nib.

10. A fountain applicator comprising a tubular body having a reservoirtherein, a housing ilxed to said body and'having a portion disposed insaid reservoir and a port establishing communication between saidreservoir and the interior of said housing, a valve reciprocable in saidhousing for opening and closing said port, a spring mounted in saidhousing for normally holding said valve in closed position, said valvehaving a stem extending outside of said housing, and an absorbentwriting nib nxed to the exposed end oi.' said valve stem, said valvestem having a passageway therein leading from the interior of saidhousing to the interior of said nib, said valve being movable to opensaid port only by pressure on said nib in excess oi that employed inwriting therewith.

11. A fountain applicator comprising a`hollow cylindrical body having adownwardly opening pocket in one end thereof and a reservoir above saidpocket, a hollow cylindrical valve housing mounted in said reservoir,said housing'being disposed axially of said body and having a port inits side adapted to establish communication between, said reservoir andthe interior of said housing, a valve axially slidable in 'said housingto open and close said port. a

compression spring mounted in said housing above said valve for normallyholding the same in closed position, said valve having a depending stemportion extending into said pocket, and an absorbent writing nib havingits upper portion disposed in said pocket and removablysecured to thelower end of said valve stem,

said valve stem'having a passageway therein leading from the interior oisaid housing to the interior oi said nib, said valve being movable toopen said portorily` by endwise pressure on said nib in exces oi' thatemployedin writing therewith.

12. A fountain applicator comprising a tubular body having an internalannular rib therein, a reservoir above said rib and a downwardly openingpocket therebelow, a screw cap for the upper .end of said body, a slipcover for the lower end thereof, ai hollow cylindricalhousingrdisposedinls'aid bodyaxially thereof and closing the openingdefined by said annular rib, said housing having'a port adapted toestablish communication between said reservoir and the interior oi' saidhousing, a yvalve mounted in said housing for axial sliding butnon-rotary movement therein to open and close said port, a springmounted in said housing above said valve for normally holding the samein position to close said' port,

said valve having a depending stem extendingI 'into said pocket, anabsorbent nib disposed in said pocket, and a hollow screw threaded intosaid nib and on the lower end of said valve stem, said valve stem havinga passageway therein leading from the interior of said housing to theinterior of said nib through said hollow screw.

OTTO J. ERB.

